A blog to record my personal Bible studies and thoughts as I grow in faith.

Daniel 12

1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Daniel is referring to Michael (or Miyka’el), the Archangel. Strongs Number 4317

Stands and arise are the same word – ‘amad Strongs Number 5975. The word ‘amad, can mean:

to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand

(Qal)

to stand, take one’s stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of

Daniel is telling us that during the end times or what we have come to term the Tribulation, the archangel Michael arises or comes on the scene to stand guard over Israel. Daniel warns that the Tribulation that is coming is like nothing that has ever been seen before since Israel became a nation. Daniel also says that anyone found written in the book of God will be rescued (or delivered or will escape – see Strongs Number 4422 word Malat).

So Daniel really packs a lot into a couple of sentences.

2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

Just when I thought this verse was pretty straight forward I run into a word that made absolutely zero sense to me so I had to research further.

The word “awake” is Strong’s Number 7019 Qayits and it means summer, summer-fruit.

Say what? How did they get awake from summer or summer-fruit?

Well, the word Qayits is from the word quwts 6972; harvest (as the crop).

The words “everlasting life” are two different words, however they both convey wonderful meanings here. Everlasting is just what we think of: forever and ever and ever. However I was expecting the word “life” to be referencing alive or to live and leave it at that, however the list of definitions goes on to include “to revive, be quickened, to restore to life, to restore (to health), to give life”.

So, I’m thinking Daniel is saying that ..many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will be harvested like summer-fruit (or gathered, or will be awakened). The ones like good summer-fruit will go on to everlasting life, the others will go on to everlasting reproach, shame, disgrace and aversion and abhorrence that lasts forever an ever.

Ouch! I pray the Lord will find me as good summer-fruit!

3 “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

The words “shine brightly” (Strong’s Number 2094) was used as to send out light, to shine, be light, be shining, but also to admonish, teach, and warn.

This is an oddly phrased verse. Those who have insight (or comprehension) will shine brightly (send out light of comprehension, teaching, warning etc.) like the brightness of heaven (sending light of understanding into the darkness) and those who lead the many (teachers) to righteousness, will shine like the stars forever and ever (everlasting life).

4 “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

Daniel is given a command here to seal up and conceal these words until a later time when knowledge will have increased. It doesn’t specify “when” or “what” specific knowledge is supposed to have increased before digging into these words again. It says many will go back and forth and knowledge will increase. Perhaps, it is saying that because of scholarly debates back and forth on these words, combined with hundreds of years of history, people will get closer and closer to the true meaning.

5 Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”

The phrasing of these verses is again strange, but it is a prophecy isn’t it? So that is par for the course.

So here we see 2 men on either side of a river and another “above” or “higher” than the waters of the river.

Looking up “above” it means “higher than”. So the man dressed in linen really was “above” the waters and this man was Christ (refer back to chapter 10).

So one of the men on the banks of the river was looking up at Christ and asking How long?

7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”

The word “power” is Yad, Strong’s Number 3027.

Definition

hand

hand (of man)

strength, power (fig.)

side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

(various special, technical senses)

sign, monument

part, fractional part, share

time, repetition

axle-trees, axle

stays, support (for laver)

tenons (in tabernacle)

a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

wrists

The words “time, times, and half a time” have been used in reference to the Tribulation, specifically a 3 and a half year period known as the Great Tribulation prior to Christ returning and setting up His 1000 year reign on earth.

I’m not going to take the time to “explain” the various interpretations out there on this phrase but, if you are super interested and want to twist your brain into a pretzel, here are a couple of links you can look at:

Normally, I wouldn’t link to Wikipedia but in this instance they actually have a decent article.

9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 10 “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.

I like this these verses because they are comforting almost. Christ is saying basically, just live your life Daniel, don’t worry about these things. When this occurs many wicked will die, many righteousness will be refined and while the wicked are blind and won’t understand, there will be those who understand.

11 “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!

Again, based on whatever interpretation of “time” you choose to believe, this could be talking about what is to come or what has already happened. Maybe, it’s referencing both the past and the future. All things are within God’s ability.

Many people get caught up “debating” or arguing over the meanings of certain verses until they lose sight of all that they agree on. If these verses are speaking of a future yet to happen, well I’m not a Biblical Scholar with knowledge in Hebrew and Aramaic, nor do I have access to the original scroll, nor would I know what to do with it even if I had access to it! The fact is, this tidbit of “wisdom” has not been granted to me, God has not enlightened me as to which interpretation is correct, if any.

I tend to lean toward the belief of a Pre-Trib Rapture, Tribulation, Great Tribulation, Christ’s return, Armageddon, Satan bound, then 1000 year reign on earth prior to a new heaven and earth.

I like the fact that God wins in the end and those who believe gain everlasting life, and those who are lost have a 7 year wake up call during the Tribulation to get their act together and such.

Anyway, again, I won’t argue with someone over these things, because I just “don’t know”. Arguments can be made for almost any way you look at the future events. I will know when God leads me to that knowledge and it may very well happen…when something happens ~laughs~.

13 “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

The image here I like. Live your life, don’t worry about the future events, when it’s your time to die, go to sleep and lay in rest and you will rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.

Post navigation

2 thoughts on “Daniel 12”

I love Daniel 12:13 and use it like a mantra at times. When I get so exhausted that I can’t go on, or think I can’t, I remember that I will have rest one day. It will be a rest so total and complete that I won’t have to worry about catching up on sleep ever again. It would be wonderful to lie down and not have to rise until my creator determines that it is my time for my allotted portion. I just need to do what I can to keep myself prepared for that time. It would be just awful to be doing something of which I would be ashamed at the time I am called home. I’ve thought of that more than once when I have lost my temper and yelled or something. I would hate that to be the moment that God reaches down and says it is time. Knowing me, I would yell at Him and say “Not now.” Guess I better watch it a lot closer!! lol